Fishing lure



July 28, 1925. 1,547,619

J. P. SHANNON FISHING LURE Filed miv. 23, '192:5

.Patented July 28, 1925. f

4 attac in UNITED STAT-Es vPMENT oFFlcE.

JESSE P. SHANNON, 0F LAKE GENEVA, WISCONSIN.

FISHING LURE.

. Application tiledv November' 2,3, 1923. Serial No. 673,491.

To all whom, t 'may concern.'

Be it known that I, Jnssn P. SHANNON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lake Geneva, in the county of Walworth and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fishing Lures, of which the following-is a A specification.

This invention relates to a fishing lure or artificial bait especially designed for cast-- ing or trolling for game fish.

The object of the invention is to provide a lure consisting primarily of a hook and a bait secured thereto, preferably in the form of a strip of pork rlnd or the like.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a novel and effective method of attachingl the bait to the hook so that it can be easily and securely baited, and at the same time assume the most favorable position for simulating the naturally weaving or wriggling movement of live bait in traveling through the water.

In disclosing the invention, it is to be understood that a hook equipped with the attachin member may be used'in making various orms of lures, such as flies, spoons andvarious other forms in which spinners, feathered or colored materials are employed to produce a life-like effect. An illustrative form' of lure is disclosed herein, it being understood that the bare hookwith the novel bait attaching device constitutes subject matter of the invention. Referring to the accompanying draw- 1n s:-

tliigure'l is a perspective view of a hook with a strip of pork'rind secured in position.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view inperspective, showing the manner in which the attaching member is applied and manipulated.

Fi re 3 is an enlar ed view showing the member used lfor securing an additional ook.

Figure 1 shows a lure or artlficial part in which the hook 1 forms the foundation, said hook being of the usual form, consisting of a strai ht shank 2 having an eye 3 at one end and the bent or hooked portion 4 at its other end with a barb 5 at its extremity.

Adjacent the lower end of the shank, and just above the oint where the shank begins to bend to orm the hook, 1s rigidly s ecured the attaching device consistlng 1n general of a spring clip 6, preferably made of resilient wire, bent double to form a skeleton frame which conforms generally to the rounded contour of the curve at the base of the shank. The clip is secured near the back or outside of the hook, and forms an E offset portion 9 which normally stands away from the shank. At the end of the straight or offset portion 9, the wires make an abrupt bend toward the hook, there being formed an intermediate U-shaped bend 10 between said offset portion 9 and a hook embracing portion 11, which follows substantially the curve at the base of the hook with the wires on either side thereof. At the extremity of the portion 11 of the clip, at right angles to form a U-shaped loog 12,

lwhich passesover or' straddles the hoo the inside thereof.

The clip is so applied as to be under tension and hence is yieldingly held in its normal position, as shown in full lines of Figure 2. By pressing inwardly upon the offset portion 9 the clip is displaced to the dotted line position of Figure 2, whereby the offset portion is brought into line with the shank of the hook and the end portion 11, shifted the wires are bent inwardly and free of the hook. This displacement of the end portion of the clip provides a slot or opening extendingtransversely of the hook, through which the bait, such as a strip of pork rind 13 may be inserted. The attachment of the strip 13 is accomplished by first inserting the prongs 8 through the inner end of the strip and then vassing the free end through the eye formed the clip, at the sametime wardly with the finger. releasin clip it springs back to its initial osltion, thus securing the strip firmly against displacement, and in a position in the plane of the hook, it being obvious that the strip is turned through 90 1n passing it through the pressing inthe eye of the clip. This is an added advantage I in that the strip assumes a vertical position 1n the water, since a hook, particularly when forming a part of an art1t1c1al bait, invariably travels through the water with its barbed end uppermost. Thus the strip is capable of simulating more nearly the horizontal wriggling movement of a small fish in traveling through the water, ratherl than an unnatural up and down weaving or wriggling` motion.

The clip may also serve as a meansfor attachingr an additional hook, if desired. The method of attachment is shown in Figure 3, in which the added hook 14 is secured to the U-shaped bend 10 at the base of the clip and trails the main hook. Any suitable means of connection may be used in attaching the trailing hook at the bend 10, which affords a convenient place of attachment, as well as secured fastening.

Having descriied the features embodying the invention, I claim as my invention:

1. In a fishing lure, the combination of a hook, a spring clip consisting of parallel wires secured to the shank of the hook and extending on opposite sides of the lower portion of said shank and the curved portion of the hook therebeyond, the free end of said clip being bent transversely to torni a U-shaped loop passing around the hook adjacent its barbed end, a portion of the clip intermediate its ends normally standing away from the hook to permit the clip to be depressed to permit the bait to be inserted through the end thereof.

2. In a lishing lure, the combination with a hook of a spring clip consisting of parallel Wires, fixed to the shank and spaced apart to embrace a substantial portion of said shank and the curved portion therebeyond, and provided at its extremity with a looped end straddling said curved portion and having a portion intermediate its ends standing away from the hook and adapted to be pressed inwardly to permit the passage of the bait between the hook and the end portion ,ot the clip.

3. In a fishing lure, the combination with a hook, of a clip consisting of wire bent to form a skeleton frame, conforming substantially to the curve at the lower end of the shank ot the hook, said frame being secured to the shank with the ends of the wires projecting laterally to form bait vsecuring prongs, and having a straight portion normally standing away from the shank portion and a free end portion extending transversely to said straight portion and embracing the hook beyond said bend, the extremity of said free end portion being bent inwardly to form a U-shaped loop straddling the hook.

In 'witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 19th day of November, A. D. 1923.

JESSE I. SHANNON. 

